Business Standard - February 17, 2025

In this issue

February 17, 2025

One small step for AI, one giant leap likely for India's footwear market

Reebok co-founder in talks with factories in India to manufacture curated footwear

2 mins

US may ask for more access to agri products, ethanol

The United States (US) is likely to ask India for substantial market access in agriculture and dairy products, ethanol, and medical devices under the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA) that both countries have agreed to conclude in the next eight months.

2 mins

Rain not sole culprit: IIT panel's T1 verdict

A flawed design, inferior workmanship, inadequate maintenance, and major discrepancies between design and construction were possible key factors in the collapse of the canopy at Terminal 1 of the Delhi Airport on June 28 last year amid heavy rain, according to the report submitted by the expert committee appointed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

5 mins

India Inc profits crawl as sales stay sluggish

But operating profit margin of 28.7% the best in 21 quarters

3 mins

AI Triggering Shift in HR Depts of Firms

Artificial Intelligence (AI), while reshaping workplaces and redefining efficiency, is also changing the organisations' human resources departments. From recruitment to lead generation and real-time performance audits, companies are fast-tracking AI adoption to streamline core human resource functions.

1 min

ePlane and ICATT sign $1bn deal for 788 air ambulances

The ePlane Company, a pioneer in compact flying electric taxis and urban air ambulance solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with International Critical-care Air Transfer Team (ICATT), which could revolutionise emergency medical response in India.

1 min

Welfare schemes, rural jobs fuel labour crisis: Execs

A confluence of pandemic-spurred behavioural changes, availability of various welfare schemes, and a sudden spurt in infrastructure projects has led to a decline in labour migration, resulting in a shortage of workers across industries, according to industry executives and HR experts.

2 mins

Standoff at Samsung's TN plant may intensify

The fresh standoff between employees and the Samsung India management at the company's Sriperumbudur plant in Tamil Nadu, is expected to intensify from Monday, with around 1,000 workers, backed by the Citu (Centre of Indian Trade Unions), along with their family members, are set to hold a massive hunger strike at Sunguvarchatram.

1 min

Reciprocal tariffs' may complicate US duty rate structure

The immediate reaction to the Trump-Modi meet in Washington is one of relief that any proposals for imposition of India-specific tariffs by the United States are on hold for the moment.

2 mins

Foreign firms' tax burden hits record low in India

Corporation tax cuts, GST reforms, compliance measures behind decline in tax outgo

2 mins

Banks hit by AGS may turn to others for cash management operations

A few banks, whose ATM services have been impacted due to the liquidity issues of AGS Transact Technologies, are exploring the option of shifting their cash management operations to other providers.

1 min

Deposit insurance offers silver lining

Customers pin hopes on 5 lakh insurance payout as RBI freezes withdrawals

3 mins

State NBFCs Reissue Bonds as Fundraise Nears FY25 Limit

State-owned non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) have been actively reissuing their bonds in February as they approach their fundraising limits for the current financial year, according to bond market participants.

1 min

Footwear industry may cross $574 bn by 2032

Though companies like Nike and Adidas have been reportedly providing 3D-printed shoes, they are available only in limited editions.

1 min

India's Average Applied MFN Tariff Is 39%

\"In addition, India maintains high basic customs duties (in some cases exceeding 20 percent) on drug formulations, including life-saving drugs and finished medicines listed on the World Health Organization's list of essential medicines.

1 min

Panel found discrepancies between design drawings, actual construction

The expert panel identified a critical design flaw: the horizontal beam was assumed to be at the top of the flared columns but was actually attached midway, altering the force distribution and stressing the weld joints.

4 mins

DOGE Nixes $21 Million US Grant to Increase India's 'Voter Turnout'

In its continuing crackdown on United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded projects, the billionaire Elon Musk-led US government's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced on Sunday morning (India time) that it has cancelled American assistance of $21 million intended for increasing \"voter turnout in India\".

2 mins

Fintechs Look Beyond Traditional Means to Scale Up Presence of e₹

Entities will have to tap into use-cases beyond peer-to-peer and peer-to-merchant transactions

2 mins

Expect investments in excess of ₹4 tn to create 100,000 jobs

The Madhya Pradesh government will host the Global Investors Summit (GIS) in state capital Bhopal on February 23-24. In an interview with Sanjeeb Mukherjee and Archis Mohan in New Delhi last week on the sidelines of a preparatory event related to the summit, Chief Minister MOHAN YADAV spoke about his government's plans to amend 30 policies to foster ease of doing business and said he was confident that investment proposals would exceed all previous records. Edited excerpts:

3 mins

US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia soon to end 3-yr war in Ukraine

US and Russian officials will meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to start talks aimed at ending Moscow's nearly three-year war in Ukraine, a US lawmaker and a source familiar with the planning said on Saturday.

1 min

ISIL Unable to Mount Large-Scale Attacks in India: UN Report

Terror group Islamic State was unable to mount large-scale attacks in India but its handlers tried to incite lone-actor attacks through supporters based in the country, a UN report has said.

1 min

DeepSeek Drives $1.3 Trillion China Stock Rally as Funds Flow Back From India

DeepSeek's breakthrough in artificial intelligence is helping drive a rotation of stock funds back into China from India.

2 mins

Australia to Put 2-Yr Curbs on Foreigners Purchasing Homes

Australia will ban foreign investors from buying existing homes in the country for two years, its government said on Sunday, in an effort to boost under-pressure housing supply.

1 min

Dubious history of the presidential pardon

When it comes to pardons, presidents are kings,\" the legal journalist Jeffrey Toobin writes in his new book, The Pardon: The Politics of Presidential Mercy.

4 mins

New phase in India-US ties

India will have to deal with unpredictability

2 mins

In a tight spot

Sustained correction will test investors

2 mins

QSR chains' sales recovery: The main course with a side of optimism

PLATING A COMEBACK: QSR stocks ready to break their six-month diet of negative returns

3 mins

AI's Oxygen: Undersea cables and satellites

Digital connectivity is oxygen for artificial intelligence (AI).

2 mins

TAKEOVER TANGLE

The eventful battle for Religare tests Sebi's Takeover Code

5 mins

TAKEOVER TANGLE The eventful battle for Religare tests Sebi's Takeover Code

The eventful battle for Religare tests Sebi's Takeover Code

5 mins

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